Roberts is out of contract at the end of this season and as he rolls into the twilight stages of his career, he needs to prove his fitness before coming close to being considered for a new contract at Madejski Stadium.

A key player both on and off the pitch, for now, the former Wigan man is helping his relegation-threatened side keep their focus for the Premier League run in.

He said: “There are still big games to go and it doesn’t change what we need to do.

“We need to be positive. We attack every game with a positive attitude and there is no other way.”

On the back of three defeats in on the spin, Royals’ methods are starting to be questioned by the fans.

Their trip to Dubai earlier this month has already been called into question.

But Roberts, who didn’t go and instead trained at home with the phyisos, added: “People can say what they like.

“I don’t see it as being an issue whatsoever.

“I guess it’s an easy thing to say. But from the players’ and staffs’ point of view we have always prepared right.

“In the dressing room we will stick together. We stick together through success and when things are getting hard, that’s when you find out about people and what they are about.”